Automatic ignition device for gas burners



' Jan. 5 1926.

w. E. POTTEIGER AUTOMATIC IGNITION DEVICE FOR GAS BURNERS Filed July 5, 1923 gwuevyfoz BEEP @fg lu William E. Putt 6W0! muf IN5ULATION I 6 3 1} [ill iilni I C Patented Jan. 5, 1926. 1

- burners.

- gas regulator, such as is set forth in my co- UNITED STATES WILLIAM n. ro'r'rnrenn, or HARRISBURG,-'IENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC IGNITION DEVICE FOR GAS BURNERS.

Application filed Jul 5,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E, For- TEIGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Ignition Devices for Gas Burners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in means for automatically igniting gas The primary object of this invention is the provision of an ignition device, adapted for use in connection with a gas burner for the automatic ignition of gas when released through the burner; the improved automatic ignition device embodying a switch therein which is adapted for operation in connection with afuel regulating valve. I 7 v a A further object of'this invention is the provision of an ignition device automatically operable inconnection with a gas burner, embodying a switch mechanism in circuit therewith adapted to be controlled by the movable valve parts of an automatic pending application,.Serial N 0. 629,654, filed April 3, 1923. I Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the following detailed description. '7

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Figure 1 is a view, partly in section, show ing cooperating features of the gas burner and an automatic gas regulator such as set forth. in my co-pending application above referred to, the improved ignition device being shown as used in connection withthe burner and automatic gas regulating valve. Figure 2 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line.2'2 of Figure 1, showing improved switch features of the automatic ignition device, as used inconnection with the parts of my improved automatic gas regulating valve above referred to. Y

, Figure 3 is a transverse cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1. a

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration isshown but the preferred embodiment of this invention, the letter A may generally designate apparatus adapted 1923. Serial No. 649,737.

to convey fuel, suchas gas, and may include a burner arrangement B, and automatic gas regulator F, such as is set forth in my copending application above referred to. In

connectionwith theburnerB and gas reguployed which includes a circuit 10 storage battery or like exciter 11; intensifying coil;

12; sparking means 13 and switch device 15. Referring to the automatic gas regulator F, the same includes a housing structure 20,

longitudinally through which a valve stem 21 reciprocates. The lower end of the housmg has a chamber 22 therein, and the chamber 22'has a laterally extending conis provided with a head 27 thereon which is the-diameter of the seat 24 to provide a slight clearance therebetween. At the upper end of the housing 20, a chamber 30 is provided, which is adapted to'receive asupply of gas from a gas conduit 31. I The chamber 30 provides a restricted seat 32 through the nozzle portion 33 thereof.

Theburner B may be of any approved type, and is connected, as by means of an L-fitting 35 to the nozzle 33, the L-fitting 35 including a horizontal portion 36, and the vertical portion 37 upon which the burner B is directly mounted, although the fitting 36 may beof any shape, as the same is primarily adapted, to provide a conduit for the transmission of fuel or gas from the nozzle 33 to the burner B.

The automatic gas regulator F, as to operation, is well set forth in my copending application, above referred to. The primary principle of operation, however, is that when lator F, an ignition device H may be em 31 and then upwardly through the fittingv 35 into the burner Nhen the water is shut oil from flow through the conduit 25, the gas being under pressuregreater tha atmospheric pressure, such pressure will act upon the valve head 38 to send the valve stem 21 upwardly to close the nozzle 33 so that gas cannot escape therethrough.

referring to the switch means 15, a metal arm 50 is preferably affixed to the valve stem 21=, and extends radially thru a slot 52, in the housing 20,said arm 50 extending for itsmaj or length beyond the exterior surface of the housing 20, substantially as is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing. When the valve head 38 is closed within its seat 32, the rod- 50is uppermost within its slot5'2, so that as the valve rod- 21 moves dmvnwardly within the housing 20', the contact 'arm 50 may likewise move downwardly in tllGSlOl? 52 int-o the position indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawing. lihis arm 50 constitutes a movable contact for the switch structure 15. and 55 of a clampingring are connected about the water inlet conduit 23, at their upper endsbeing connected by an insulatirur spacingpiece 56, and at their lower ends dependingand providing apertured ears 58 adapted to receive an adjusting screw or bolt 59therethrough, whereby the segments 54 and 55 may be-the more'securely'attached to the conduit 23. A; portion 60 of the insulation strip 56 is upwardly inclined to one'side and a second portion 61 is upwardly inclined to the opposite side of the normal plane 'ofthe strip 56. These insulation portions 60' and 61 respectively support resilient contact arms 63 and 6 L respectively which are arouate, and'attheir upper ends are urgedinto the plane defined by the slot 52. At the upper end ofeach arm 63 and 64, a pair of. crimps or bowedportions 66 and 67 are provided, and the extreme upper ends of said arms 63 and 6are relatively out-turned, as at 69. The arms 63 and 6% in theirbowed portions immediately above the insulation attaching portions 60 and 61 are respectively provided with terminal screws70 and: 71' which are adapt-ed to respectively receive wiies72 and 73 of 'the circuit 10' thereon;

The coil 12; has the battery 11 connected onto contacts 7 8 and 79 thereof and the-wires 7 3 are preferably connected to terminal 78 so that current may flow through-the wire 73- into the switch structure 15.

Referring to the sparking structure 13;, a pair o-f-elongated electrodes 80 and 81 are preferablyprovided asa part thereof, which maybe supported in insulation sleeves 82 and 83- respectively. A pair of clamping arms 85 and 86 areprovided, which-aredetachably-secured about the upstanding conduit portion 37, as by screws orbolts 8-7, andradially outsta-ndf-rom the vertical portion Segments 5 f minal' nuts 94 to the lower endof the other electrode 81; said wire 93- being attached also to a terminal 95 of' the intensifying coil 12.

Referring to the operation of this invention, when the water is inactive within the conduit 23, he pressure within the gas main being greater than atmospheric pressure will maintain the valve stem 21 uppermost to seat the valve head 38 in its seat 32, and in accordance with a specific description of the improved automatic gas regulator set forth in myco-pending application above referred to. In this position, the switch 15 will, of course,'be open, as the arm 50 is elevated "above the contact' arms 63 'and 64C and the circuit 10 is consequently broken; However, upon opening of 'a'sto-pcock to permit flow of water through the conduit 25, the water will flow through theconduit 23 into the chamber 22 and act upon the head 27' to move the stem -21 downwardly and open the valve structure within the automatic gas-regulator. This-opening of the valve structure will-of-course 'drawthe valve stem 21 downwardly until the metal contact arm 50 moves into engagement with the two uppermost crimps or bowed per tions 67 of the contactarms 63 and 64. This completes the circuit through the storagebattery'coil andcauses an intense spark tojump between the contact points 90 ofthe electrodes 80- and 81. As the-valve in the automatic gas-regulator F opens, the fuel -or gas flows upwardly thruthe fitting 35- into the burner B. Ifthe gas has al ready reached theburner-B, incident to suf ficient pressure, the first spark jumping-between the points 90 will ignite the same. However, as the rushing water further opens the valve structure in the automatic gas'regul'ator F, the radially extending arm 50 will descend until the same again bridges the contacts 63-and 64: as by engaging the lower bowed portions 66 thereof, causing a second sparkto jump betweentheelec trodes 90, and at which time, of course, the gas is emanating fromthe burner Band will be ign'iteda As the contact 50 further descends, the circuit 10 is broken, although the purpose of the samehas been served, as the gas is ignited. lVhen the water is stoppedfrom flowing through the conduit 28, the valve mechanism in the automatic of gas to the burner B.

gas regulator F will elevate to shut ofi flow From the foregoing description of this invention, it is apparent that an automatic ignition device for gas burners has been provided, which will not only do away with the ordinary pilot light provided for'gas burners, but which is more economical in operation than the ordinary pilot light and which is absolute in operation.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of-this invention or the scope of the claim.

I claim:

In an apparatus of the character described, a conduit, a valve for controlling passage of fluid through said conduit and including a body portion having a longitudinally extending slot and ,a valve stem sliding longitudinally in the body portion, a burner and electrically operated igniting means including a circuit, sparking means in the circuit adjacent said burner and a,

switch comprising clamping arms, a strip of insulation secured between the upper end portions of said clamping arms, means for drawing the clamping arms into binding engagement with 'a support adjacent said valve, said strips of insulation extending above said clamping arms and having fingers'extending in diverging relation to each other and upon opposite sides of said clamping arms, resilient contact strips secured to said fingers and extending upwardly therefrom, said strips having portions bowed outwardly in opposite directions and at the upper ends bowed portions having upwardly extending crimped end portions, terminals carried by the bowed portions, and a bridging rod extending from said valve stem through said slot and positioned above the crimped portions of the contact strips when the valve is closed and moving downwardly between the crimped portions to a point between the bowed portions when the valve is opened and'engaging with crimped portions while passing between the same to complete the circuit and permit operation of the sparking means. 7

WILLIAM E. POTTEIGEB.

of the I 

